Wisteria

A star climber with pink or purple flowers in drooping clusters, abundant in the spring and well adapted to temperate climates.

Common name : Wisteria

Scientific name : Wisteria spp.

Family : Fabaceae

Category : Climbing plants

Type of plant : Perennial

Pruning needed

Frost resistant

Wisteria is a good plant to dress up a wall, trellis, fence, or a tree, given that it can wrap around something and is in broad daylight or a partially sunny area with cool, well-drained, rich soil. Its foliage is deciduous so don't count on hiding you from your neighbors in winter!

Sowing & planting

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Flowering

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Caracteristics

Exposition

Water needs

Granulométrie

plants.granulometry_4

Frost-resistance

High

Zone USDA

5a

Height

800 - 1200

pH

7

Identify my wisteria

There are a dozen species of cultivated wisterias, and one hybrid — among the most common are Wisteria floribuna, the "Japanese wisteria", Wisteria sinensis, the "Chinese wisteria", Wisteria brachybotrys and Wisteria x formosa.
They're all deciduous, climbing plants with bunches of hanging, butterfly-shaped flowers that measure from 10 to 40 cm in length. They have 15 to 40 cm pinnate leaves — W. Brachybotrys leaves are covered in soft hairs.
W. sinensis flowers are blue or white. W. x formosa has more oval shaped folioles, while the three other species have spear-shaped leaves.

Plant my wisteria

Plant preferably in late autumn or winter but avoid frost days, in a rich and well drained soil, in the sun or in partial shade. Plant in a hole at least twice as big as the root ball. Bathing the roots before planting could greatly improve the chances of recovery. Do not bury the collar of the plant. You can form a bowl around the foot, which will be used for watering during the first months. Tamp the soil around the roots - do not hesitate to use all the weight of your body! Water until filling the planting bowl (at least two watering cans). Use a prop to guide your green wisteria.

Prune my wisteria

Carry out maintenance pruning to reduce the weight of the wisteria branches on the main stems. You should also prune if you need to limit the size of a wisteria that has grown too large. From August to September, cut all secondary sprouts back to 15 cm (less than six leaves). Prune these branches back to three buds again in January.
Wisterias can be trained to grow on a dead or dying tree, in which case, don't prune them. In order to direct the plant, cut back the main stem to 1 m after planting (or more, depending on the desired height). The main stem and it's branches much be trained in the first year. Principal branches should be cut back 2/3, and only 3 buds should be left on secondary branches. Keep doing this for a number of years until your wisteria has a solid and harmonious shape.

Water my wisteria

Water regularly for the first year, as your wisteria hasn't fully developed it's natural root system. Water normally for then on, primarily in summer as excess moisture can cause the plant to waste away. It's better to water copiously but infrequently to encourage the root system to seek water deep underground.

Trellise my wisteria

Wisteria will wrap around whatever is available... And then slowly crush it into pieces over time, so don't bother investing in something expensive. The side of a wall, simple wires or a trellis are perfect.

Mulch my wisteria

Mulch the base of your wisteria in order to limit competition with weeds and the chore of watering! A 3-5 cm layer of bark or wood mulck is recommended, but you can use whatever you have on hand as long as it's a thin layer.

Fertilize my wisteria

If you find you wisteria is developing more and more slowly, mulch with compost or well-decomposed manure in November, before spring growth. Gently dig up the top layer of earth with a spade and mix the fertilizer in, the closer to the roots the better. Avoid excess nitrates in your fertilizer, as they favour leaf growth to the detriment of the flowers.